Veterans – Week of March 24, 2011

STAFF CONTACT:  Julie T. Simon

SF 397 – Falsely claiming military medals, decorations

SF 402 – Injured Veterans Grant program

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 397 makes impersonating a decorated military veteran with the intent to deceive in order to receive any real or anticipated monetary gain a serious misdemeanor. A “decorated military veteran” is an individual who has been awarded a decoration or medal authorized by Congress for service in the U.S. Armed Forces, including any ribbon, button or rosette of the badge, decoration or medal. [3/21: 48-0]

SF 402 allows a seriously injured veteran who has previously received an injured veterans grant to be eligible to apply for and receive an additional grant from the Injured Veterans Grant Program for a subsequent serious injury received in the line of duty unrelated to the first injury. The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs requested consideration of the legislation after a soldier who had received a grant was re-deployed and received another serious injury in the line of duty during that deployment. The Senate concurred on the House amendment that allows retroactive payment of approved grants for eligible veterans who suffered subsequent, unrelated injuries after September 11, 2001, permits the Department to request funds to meet the needs of this program from the Executive Council if funds are made available to the Council for this purpose, and makes the legislation effective upon enactment. [3/23: concur, 48-0]